Electric-spark timer for gasolene-engines.



W. B, DEAN.

ELECTRIC SPARK TIMER FOR GASOLENE ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-18.1916.

Patentad July 9, 1918,

WILB'UR T B DElkN, DE

GRAND RAPIDS/MICHIGAN.

ELECTRZC-SPARK TIMER oasonnnn snoinss.

T, 2? 21334. Specification of Letters Patent.

l-Fixation filed ,loptember To all whom it may comern:

lie it known that l. il'uisizm ll.

"l mit, a L'lllZQl] of the l lllltl States.

residing at (iizllfll Rapids, in'tlie county of limit. and

State of liicliigan, have invented certain new and useful luipmvemvuts in l lloetriv-f-3parl-z Timers for tiasolene-i lugrinos. of Wu h the following is a spechieation.

This invention relates to improvements in spark regulators Ot timers for use on ;:asoleue engines, and its ob eeis are: first, to

provide a menus u'liei'eby the electric ignitin sparks for use on mul iple engine cylinders may be oxactl lllllfil lo meet the infiow of gasolene to cylinders at the e ilesiiable instant; second, to provide a spark time;- that will he absolutely positive in its action at; each anti every Poutac'i, an i, third, to provide a snarl: inner that may he adapted io specialfornis and makes of engines. Y

These objects are attained the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying (li'awing, in which Figure 1 is a plan of the contavt spring for this timer, showing how it maybe applied to the actuating shafs; Fig, 2 is a longitudinal section of a short, length of a spark k ham oei with this spark timer in place, and Fig. 3 is a cross section of a spark chamber showing a plan of this timer in working position in the chamber.

Similar reference characters refer '50 similar parts in each oi the several views shown In the accompanyin (la-swing.

This invention. is designed particularly fox; use on gasolene engines already onthe market. havingvery small spark chambers in which roller contact; is "used the cylinder requires the use some insulating salistance between eoniact points, as, instance, with the Ford engine in which the spark chamber is of very short (iiani ten and uses a roller for (Olll'.fl("i'. in this @2559. ilie roller is wholly dispensed with anti a spring afililb ateil, sliding nontavt plate 1 is used, To bring this about it is uee ssaiy to provide plate having cousitleial to flexibility, and a long, reasonably strong spring, which woul be impossible to attain with a spring extending outward from ih central posi- 01 shaft; of the timer,

This invention, therefore. consists p1-actically in the vonstructiou of the spring that carries and overns the contact points on the traveling coutavt plate. To provide the necessary spring for this purpose a round plates Patented July 9, 1918.,

1916. Serial No. 129.594.

metal body, 1, is formed with a slot, 3 out out in it forming an inner rim 2 having aspring connection with the part 1., as at 4, so that the part 1 will be suitably supported upon the revoluble central shaft- 11. The means used to properly secure this plate on'o the 11 is to place the plate upon the collar is, place a collar 13 upon his plate, place the second plate upon this collar, then the collar 1:2 upon the second plat-sand secure them all firmly in place by any available 23621118 218 with a nut if: screwed upon the and of he shaft 11.

The spring plates 1, 1 are pi'oviileil with contact points 5, 5 that; are designed to pass both sides of the plstes 7 in ll'ieeylinder 6. in this instance a time? is shown that is do sigma for a nest of four enginscyluiclers hence mar news piates, 7, are shown in cylinder n, in anal to increase the number of spark contacts ii; is only neces she l'lllil'lbfif of the contact, 6 fiililfiponil with the'niunbei" of ylinilez's to be operated. The, contact points are bent to curve from each other, at; the ntls, so that. alzey will be absolutely positive o pass as'tiide the eontact plates or oints if never approaching: them, ant. they are sutllciently rigid oythe'long spring, formed b fthe hotly Ti extending around, the center shaft and nonnecteti at; i, so that tne contact with the plates '2, 7 will e strong and elie'c'tiive. It will be distinctly understood that. while the part 2 is'fiz'mly clamped ne iii'een the flanges 12, l. and 14, the dividing groove 3 carries the inner edge of It absolutely free from these no s on the adjacent to the Contact oims 5. so that the positions of these points may be varied to a ('OHSldQi'flblQ degree with out in any way straining an of the (oniaciz plates, and at. the same time the (out-act between the points 5 and 7 Will be perfect, complete and positive in results.

l fifn i'lilS @onstruction, as an air space eX- ists between the points 7, 7 and as the points 5, 5 (lo not some in Contact with any metal except when conlaoting with the noints 7 it is not necessary to use any form of insulating. substance between the points Y, '2', though the points 7-7 must be insulated from the cylinder 8, as indicated at 17.

/liile it is a fact, that spin-h timers have been mfitlfi and used where contact points similar to the points 5, 5 and 7, 7 are upsai'y in increase inders,

pe g a a considerable varlatiop tIf deemed firmly secured on the shaft 11 and provided tween the contact points 5, 5 and eratedswithout the use of anyinsulation be- 7 tween the points 7, 7 except the air spaces, it is, also, a fact that in all suchconstructions there has been siiflicient space in the cylinders to allow of placing the necessary length of spring to-properly actuate thelates or points represented at 5, 5 between t eir supporting flanges and the plates represented at 7 .i to provide all-of the variation in the relative positions of the points 5 and 7 neces-- sary tot meet all conditions, but in this instance the appliance is for use in small cylhence the special spring shown, that extending to the farther side of the supshaft, from the contact points, so in the positions of the points 5, 5 may be attained with little or no dangerous strain pon the springs, and in this construction lie the principal features of the invention. 1

advisable a collar 9 may be W1 h a notch 15 to receive the lug 10 and positively avert the danger of the plate 2 being carrlecl around when the points 5, 5 are contacting'with the oints 7,

; The coils 8, are place simply to indicate 'the electric connection necessary to properly createthe'spark when contact is made be- 7 7 as hereinbefore suggested, .without regard to necessary positions in actual construction.

The new features in' this invention, and

f those upon which patent protection is 51cleave a connecting neck between the outer sired are: i

1. In combinationwith a cylinder having contact points extending inward from the inner surface thereof, and the central revo luble shaft of an electric spark timer for gasolene' en ines; a substantially annular sprin meta plate having a contact point exten mg from one position of its edge in position to successively engage the contact oints in the cylinder, said metal plate hava groove cut around outside of its con nection with the shaft in such manneras to x site from the connecting neck,

said contact points bent outward from each and inner circles thus formed, upon the side of the shaft bearing opposite from the contact point thus forming a spring member extending from the contact point around the shaft bearing and to the opposite side thereof, to insure perfect contact between the contact points on the plates and the contact outside of the shaft bearing forming a connecting neck at one point, contact points formed at the edge of the outer circle of saidplate opposite to the connecting neck and in position to successively engage the several points in the cylinder as the shaft revolves, said outer circles of said plates forming long flexible springs to insure perfect contact between the contact points on 'the plates and the contact points in the cylinder as the shaft revolves.

3. In combination with a metal cylinder having inwardly extending contact points, and a centrally located revoluble shaft mounted therein; annular plates securely mounted on the shaft and having circular slots formed through just outside of the shaft bearings and arranged to form a narq row spring neck connecting the inner circle and t e outer cn'cle of each of said plates, a'contact point formed on each plate oppot e ends of other to insure perfect contact between the points on the plates and the points in the cylinder, the outer circles of the plates forming long flexible springs for use in short space.

Signed at Grand Rapids, Michigan, September, 1916.

WILBURT B. DEAN. 

